therefore, the Lord said 'plainly', 'Lazarus is dead', He was but explaining

the meaning of the figure, the parable or proverb of 'sleep'.

The reader will probably be alive to the fact that death, conceived of

as sleep from which there is no awakening until the resurrection, is so

contrary to the teaching of many who have embraced the unscriptural teaching

known as 'the immortality of the soul', and its consequent sequel 'the

intermediate state' (with, incidentally, all the encouragement that such

false teaching gives to 'Spiritism' and other false doctrines), that so-

called orthodoxy is obliged to stoop to the use of questionable methods in

order to prevent the seeker after truth from finding it.  Here, for instance,

is a review of The Companion Bible, published in 1946:

Companion Bible, bearing no author's name, but wellknown to be the work

of Dr. Bullinger, gives the A.V. very much that is helpful and of

literary value.  Had it contained only orthodox matter it would have

been a valuable book of reference.  We must add that only students or

those grounded in the faith should handle, as references and notes

abound with Dr. Bullinger's views of 'soul sleep', 'hell, the grave',

'Prison Epistles' and other dangerous theories, especially in the

appendices.  Do not invest in this book' (the italics are the

The reader will observe the term 'soul sleep'.  Dr. Bullinger

repudiated the term, saying that he did not know what it meant.  Anyone who

knew the meaning of the word 'soul' as taught by Scripture, would never use

such an expression, but it is good enough to frighten the timid seeker.

The reader will, moreover, notice the appropriation

of the title 'orthodox' by those who thus criticize and condemn The Companion

Bible.  If we set out to discover what this 'orthodoxy' is, and where its

seat of authority is to be found, we shall be driven to the Bible and the

Bible only.

Shall we say that orthodoxy is found only in that Church 'by law

established'?  If so, then those whose criticisms have just been quoted will

be found very unorthodox.  Are Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists and

Brethren orthodox?  What would happen to such a company if one should follow

the lead of Paul when he observed that one part of the Sanhedrin were

Pharisees and one part Sadducees?  What an exhibition of 'orthodoxy' would

follow a few questions directed to such an assembly!  This appeal to so-

called orthodoxy is a confession of weakness.  Let all such come out plainly

and appeal only and solely to the teaching of the Scriptures and the field

will be cleared of cant.

We can well understand the fear of 'orthodoxy' if an enquirer should

turn to Appendix 13 of The Companion Bible.  There the 754 occurrences of the

Hebrew word nephesh are tabulated and analysed.  In an introduction to this

list Dr. Bullinger says:

'This Appendix will exhibit all the varieties of translation; and,

while it is not intended to teach either Theology or Psychology, it

will give such information as will enable every Bible reader to form

his own views and come to his own conclusions on an important subject,

about which there is such great controversy'.